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An interview with Carlos Sastre, January 13, 2008

Grand Tour prospects still on the rise?

His career has been one of steady progression and, after finishing an aggressive
second in the 2007 Vuelta a España, the obvious question is whether Carlos
Sastre can now go on to win a Grand Tour. The 32 year-old Spaniard recently
spoke to Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes about the season just passed and his
goals for the year ahead.

Held back slightly by his time trialling but often one of the most aggressive
in the mountains, Carlos Sastre has been one of the most consistent Grand Tour
riders of the past few years. Consider his Grand Tour record: he finished 20th
overall in his first Tour de France back in 2001, was tenth in 2002, took a
stage win and finished ninth overall in 2003, then placed eighth in 2004, 21st
in 2005 [while working for Ivan Basso], third in 2006 and fourth in 2007.

His Vuelta record shows a similar spate of top-ten results. In 2000 he won
the king of the mountains classification and finished eighth overall. In 2004
he was sixth, in 2005 he was second to Dennis Menchov [following Roberto Heras'
disqualification], in 2006 he was fourth and in 2007 he was runner-up, once
again behind the Russian.

The CSC rider is clearly a very talented competitor. In 2006 he rode all three
Grand Tours, and performed strongly. Other riders have completed the triple
in the past, but finishing 43rd in the Giro [he worked for Basso], third in
the Tour and fourth in the Vuelta illustrates his endurance, his capacity to
work hard and his dedication to the sport. That showing plus his performances
this year are things which give him particular satisfaction.

"I had aches throughout my body after using the
poles and the skis, and putting a sled behind us of 70 - 80 kilos."

-Team CSC's pre-season training camps
are notoriously brutal affairs, but remain an important part of the
team's bonding process.

"2007 was a special season," Sastre told Cyclingnews at the
recent route unveiling of the 2008 Vuelta a España. "Last year was
also special. I did the three Grand Tours and that gave me a lot of confidence.
I had a good feeling after the season because of that.

"This year was also satisfying. Finishing fourth in the Tour de France
and later on placing second in the Vuelta a España after a big fight
with the rest of the guys was, for sure, something special for me. So too for
the rest of the team."

Sastre had successes in the past but his graduation to team leader in the Tour
happened after Ivan Basso's exclusion from the race in July 2006. He coped well
with that pressure; being one of the most aggressive riders in the mountains
that year, and took that afore-mentioned third place overall. However he missed
out on what would have been a memorable podium moment in Paris, as he was only
confirmed as finishing in that position after Floyd Landis was stripped of the
Tour title for doping.

Fourth in the 2007 Tour and second eight weeks later in the Vuelta a España
were two more fine achievements. However it was his performance in the latter
event which really impressed; Denis Menchov had something of a stranglehold
on the race, but it was Sastre who was the most formidable challenger, repeatedly
throwing down the gauntlet to the Russian and attacking whenever the road kicked
upwards.

He was also uncharacteristically aggressive off the bike, blasting
Leonardo Piepoli for what he said was collaboration with race leader Menchov.

Given his performance, it's entirely possible that in 2008 he can head to the
Vuelta aiming for the final victory. However, with that race many months away,
he's keen to abstain from rash predictions. In fact, he plays down his chances
somewhat. "I don't know," he said, when asked if a Grand Tour victory
was in sight. "I am getting older, also. I am 32, next year [2008] I will
be 33, and the opportunities will be coming to an end. Next season I will take
more responsibility but I also want to enjoy the sport in different ways. I
will be looking at the people close to me and enjoying the many things that
this sport gives me.

"I will be focussed on the Tour de France. I will be focussed in all the
races, but will be doing that with my eyes open. I want to enjoy my last years
as a professional rider."

Sastre continued by clarifying that he isn't thinking of retirement just yet.
"At the moment I have one year left in my contract with CSC, 2008. We will
see at a later point if the team want to continue with me. I don't have a specific
goal as regards how long I will keep doing this...at this moment, I have a different
focus [than wondering when to stop - ed.]. I want to enjoy things. When the
time comes to stop, I will decide for myself. We will see."

Building towards the year ahead

Helping out

As Sastre mentions, he had a large number of functions, appointments
and engagements during the off-season. Such are the requirements which
come along with success. The break from racing also enabled him to do
some charity work, with an example being the time he gave in order to
help children with Down's Syndrome.

He and several other well-known names from his home region of Avilia
[such as Real Madrid player Iker Casillas, actors Tito Valverde and Fedra
Llorente, and musician Alvaro Benito Sastre] had photos taken for use
in a charity calendar.

Sastre is happy to give his assistance in this way. "I'm just really
honored that they can use my help," he stated on the team CSC website.
"I'm happy to support such a good cause. I had a great day with the
kids when the pictures were taken, and I think they came out really great."

Copies from the calendar can be purchased from team-csc.com. As might
be expected, the proceeds will go to the charity.

Many professional riders take a break after the season, heading away for a
week or two of tranquillity. It's a hectic life being a pro, after all. Not
just in terms of the exertions on the bike, but also the hullabaloo off it.
Travelling, media interviews, fan requests - everything piles up and so it's
good to finally get away from it all.

However, for Sastre, a quiet break wasn't on the cards this time round. "I
couldn't take a holiday... I was too busy with the various different events,
going to the award ceremonies and presentations," he said. "I was
also travelling in Europe, doing different functions. Then after that I did
the training camp."

CSC's camps are famous for being about as far removed from a holiday as is
possible. Every year Bjarne Riis and military hardman BS Christiansen bring
the team to remote locations and subject them to gruelling tasks; the aim is
to push the riders to the limit, thus forging a close group spirit. This time
was no different.

"We went on the 25th of November. It was difficult because when you don't
have experience with the skis, that stuff is hard. But I enjoyed it a lot. Not
many of us know how to do cross country skiing...it wasn't easy as a result,
but it was a lot of fun."

It was also good off-bike conditioning. "I had aches throughout my body
after using the poles and the skis, and putting a sled behind us of 70 - 80
kilos. It had the tent on it, wood for the fire, food and everything. It was
heavy, hard work to do, but still it was a nice time. Then since I got back
I've been training away, nothing more."

After speaking to Cyclingnews at the Vuelta, Sastre has continued to
build the miles. He'll soon rendezvous with the other CSC riders at the early-season
training camp; in past years this has been held in Italy but this time round,
the squad will be in Majorca from January 8-18.

His racing programme will then see him riding the Clasica de Almeria (March
2), the Vuelta a Murcia (March 5-9), the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon (March 24-28)
and the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco (April 7-12).

"I will do almost completely a [uniquely] Spanish programme," he
said. "Later on I will go to the Classics in Belgium, doing Flèche
Wallonne (April 23) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 27th). After
that I will decide if I will do the Giro or else something else. If I don't
go there, perhaps I will do the Tour de Romandie, take a small break, and then
prepare for the Tour de France by riding the Tour of Switzerland."

Vuelta, Tour, Olympics

When Cyclingnews spoke to Sastre, he had just seen the route for the
2008 Vuelta. As runner up to the previous edition, he was one of the big names
at the launch. And, with Rabobank stating that Denis Menchov was planning on
doing the Giro this season, it's quite possible that Sastre could start the
race as the big favourite.

However, while the route appeals to him, he's not certain of his plans. "For
me, honestly, I think that it is better for the climbers. There is only a small
amount of time trials and in that way it is good for me...I am not a heavy rider,
I have to suffer a lot not to lose time in long, flat time trials.

"This type of route is not easy but it is better for me to get something.
If I do the Vuelta a España, for sure this type of course is good for
a climber like me.

"However, first of all I have to decide if I will ride it," he continued.
"As I have said, my primary goal is the Tour de France. I will decide after
that what I will do. I don't want to make any decision now [about riding the
Vuelta] and then change it in the future.

"Now I have the confidence of my team, I have my own confidence, and I
will take these decisions step by step in order to reach my targets in the best
possible condition."

Another factor which will undoubtedly influence his - and many others' - decision
about riding the Vuelta is the Olympic Games. The races in Beijing fall between
the Tour de France and the Vuelta, and doing all three is a tough ask. Sastre
certainly seems keen about the idea of racing in China.

"It is one of my goals, after the Tour de France," he said. "It
comes two weeks after that and for sure it would be nice for me to be on the
Olympic team. But I don't know - it is something that I cannot choose, it is
the selector who decides that. We will see."

His participation in that and the Vuelta may not yet be certain, but one thing
is for sure: Given his steady progression, his dedication to his sport and the
affable nature which makes him popular with fans and media alike, many would
be happy to see Sastre take a big success in 2008. At 32 years of age, has he
reached a plateau, or can he step up another level? The months ahead will reveal
the answer to that.